Review: A legendary Native athlete is restored to glory by the Olympics and a rich new memoir

“David Maraniss’ new biography, Path Lit by Lightning, goes beyond the myth and into the guts of Thorpe’s life, using extensive research, historical nuance and bittersweet honesty to tell the story of a gifted and complicated man. Maraniss is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of a dozen books of American political and sports history. An associate editor at the Washington Post, he taps a lifetime’s immersion in sports and politics to tell Thorpe’s story … Maraniss’ biography does justice to the struggles and triumphs of a truly great man.”